The Hawera Star. THURSDAY, JANUARY 31, 1929. THE WORLD’S SHIPPING.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 31 January 1929, Page 4

The Hawera Star.

THURSDAY, JANUARY 31, 1929. THE WORLD’S SHIPPING.

Delivered every evening by 6 o’clock in Hawera. Manaia, Normanby. Okaiawa, Elthara, Mangatoki, Kaponga, Alton, Hurleyville, Patea, YVaverley, Mokoia, Wbakamara, Ohangai, Meremere, Fraser Road, and Ararata.

The returns supplied “by Lloyds respecting' shipping construction during the last quarter of 1908 show that 474 per cent, of the world’s new tonnage is being turned out in British yards. Great Britain is, therefore, still far ahead of any other country in her shipbuilding activities. It is true that she does not hold so predominant a position in this respect as in pre-war years, but there can be nothing remarkable in the fact that other countries, largely through the position created during the war years, have developed their construction of ships. The past year was not a particularly prosperous on<> for shipping. The main explanation is that the number of ships in existence is greater than the sea-borne commence of the world requires at the present time. Actually there was an increase last year in the number .of vessels under construction in British yards for foreign owners. Addressing the Chamber of Shipping in March last, as Master of the Merchant Navy and [Fashing [Fleets, the Prince of Wales referred to the easy supremacy of Great Britain in ships of over 15,000 tons. “If we take into account the age, size, and speed of our ships now as compared with other countries,” he said, “our relative position and our competitive efficiency are, I think, to be considered satisfactory.” On the same occasion Mr Baldwin referred to coal, ships, and men as Britain’s specialities, and declared that personally he had no fear as to the future Of coal. Motor ship construction as increasing, but the tonnage of this description that is being built’ in Great Britain is still less than that of steamers, though abroad the l position is different. One of the interest- j ing events in the shipping world last, year was the purchase by Lord | Kylsant of the vessels of the Commonwealth Line for £1,900,000. The un-1 fortunate experience of the Common- 1 wealth in respect of State-owned ships has had its counterpart in that of the United States Shipping Board, which for some time past has been endeavour- j ing to sell its vessels to private owners and has disposed of a good many of .'them. J According to .a Washington .message its latest essay in this direei tion does not promise very well. The tenders that have been received by it for eleven of the largest vessels, including the Leviathan, the huge ox-Cerman liner formerly known as the Vaterland, range from 16,000,000 dollars from a 'Chicago' banking firm to 6,000,000 dollars from the International Mercantile Marine. It was suggested at the time of the sale of the Commonwealth Line that it. went at a severe sacrifice, I but appearances suggest, that. the United States Shipping Board will have to be content to make the best of a much poorer bargain. It becomes a question in the circumstances of a choice of evils —whether it is better to incur a steady loss by holding on to

the ships or to cut the losses once ancl for all by getting rid of them at a ‘heavy sacrifice. Various factors con- | tribute to the indisposition of private [owners to purchase vessels offered in such circumstances unless at very [tempting figures. The United States Shipping Board could scarcely dispose, even as a gift, of much of the shipping built for it during the war period to cope with the demand of that time.